The BMC Racing Team did not emerge unscathed from a frenzied, crash-filled finale Sunday on the first road race stage of the Giro d'Italia.

Three BMC Racing Team riders – Darwin Atapuma, Silvan Dillier and Stefan Küng – were involved in crashes during the 177-kilometer race. Though none of their injuries were serious upon initial examination, Atapuma was the most banged up. He was involved in a large pile-up with about 30 km to go as riders fought for position entering two laps of a finishing circuit in Genova. With the back of his jersey ripped in several places, Atapuma arrived at the finish 1:09 after Ella Viviani (Team Sky) won the race ahead of Moreno Hofland (Lotto NL-Jumbo) and André Greipel (Lotto Soudal).

Dillier was twice involved in mishaps, once with about 45 km to go and a second time – with Küng – as the final lap of the 9.5-km circuit was about to be covered. 

Past world road champion Philippe Gilbert did not hit the ground in any of the pile-ups. But twice he had to stop when the road was blocked with downed riders. He was one of six BMC Racing Team riders who were chasing back from the crash involving Dillier and Küng.

"Everyone is nervous at the start of a grand tour, especially when the difficulties are coming really quickly (in the first week)," Gilbert said. "Everyone knows there are only a few chances to win or to have a jersey. So everyone is pushing to get some success before the climbs. Because when the climbs are there, it is everything for the GC (general classification) guys."

Marcus Burghardt, in 21st place, was the BMC Racing Team's best finisher on the day. He and the team's rider for the overall standings, Damiano Caruso, both arrived in the same time as the stage winner – as did Brent Bookwalter, Gilbert and Amaël Moinard.